Amongst the “Sh** [insert demographic here] Say” viral  phenomenon, a breastfeeding themed one has emerged.    This clip speaks volumes about U.S. breastfeeding attitudes.  I love that it is mom made too! Enjoy.

PS This was passed on to me from doula friend, Susan Arthur.

By Blessed Birth Doula Services

Great place to meet other families and learn what the world of birth and babies has to offer.   I’ll be there with the SF Doula Group.  Look for the  SFDG table and attend our “Meet the Doulas” workshop at 1:30pm.   Stop by and say hello.   Hope to see you there!
~ B Rees

SF Birth & Baby Fair

Fall: Sunday, October 2, 2011 10am-4pm

Fort Mason Center @ Herbst Pavilion

99 Marina Blvd San Francisco, CA

Don’t miss the PREMIER event for new and expecting parents in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area. The Birth and Baby Fair showcases local businesses and resources as well as independent designers with the aim to educate and expose new & expecting parents and young families to unique & beneficial products & services. Highlights include:

Local representatives from many pregnancy, birth, parenting and baby related resources including doulas, midwives, massage therapists, fitness instructors, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, photographers and more!

http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/

Natural Resources WBW events

Being pregnant is such a sweet and exciting time, with new and sometimes intense moments.  It’s important to know where to turn for support; from finding good prenatal care, writing a birth & postpartum plan, building a support network, staying healthy, getting the right maternity bra to just staying on an even keel with all the hormonal/life changes taking place.

This drop-in group is especially for expectant Moms, at every stage of pregnancy. We’ll talk openly about the roller coaster ride through pregnancy into motherhood and explore the different phases of pregnancy, labor/birth and postpartum period. You’ll also find helpful tools and tips from other expecting Moms and our facilitator, Beth Rees, a Birth & Postpartum Doula, on the following topics:

* Preparation of birth & baby
* Changing bodies & hormones
* Birth options & selecting care providers
* Relationships & Sex
* Nutrition during pregnancy, labor/birth, & postpartum
* Newborn care & parenting
* Herbal medicine during pregnancy, birth & postpartum
* Community Resources
* What you need in your birth & diaper bag- A product review
* Planning your postpartum support team

About our facilitator – Beth Rees

Beth has worked with women and families for over 15 years, and holds a B.A. in Feminist Studies and Anthropology. Beth has been a Birth & Postpartum Doula since 2006 and part of the natural resources family since 2008, helping new and growing families find the right resources for them. She received formal Doula arts training from Twin Lakes College of the Healing Arts of Santa Cruz, CA, and trained with Abigail Reagan and Tracy Dillon-Massillon at natural resources. Beth has a thriving Doula practice, Mindul Doula Arts, in San Francisco. In addition to birth work, Beth apprenticed with Five Flavors Herb, crafting herbal remedies. She creates home in San Francisco with her family.

COST (drop-in, no registration required)
$10 Members
$15 Non-members
@ Natural Resources

The range of Calm Kid’s use is not limited to mood support.  The combination of Lemon Balm, Catnip and German Chamomile can treat and support: childhood fevers, uterine cramps, digestive aid, viral infections, gentle sleep aid, infant colic (3 weeks +), and gas relief.

It’s available from Five Flavors Herbs.

Note: If you are a nursing mother with a mint sensitivity reflected in decreasing milk supply, this remedy may not for you.  Lemon Balm & Catnip are both in the mint family.

Calm Kid – Children’s Mood Support*
Contains: Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Catnip (Nepeta cataria), German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Glycerin.
*Actions and Indications: Helps children calm and focus, improving mood and ability to rest.

*Taken from Five Flavors Herbs website at http://www.fiveflavorsherbs.com/internal-formulas.html

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/10/133627064/dodging-disney-in-the-delivery-room

Join other expectant moms as we talk about the roller coaster ride of pregnancy and the emergence of yourself into motherhood/parenthood.  We’ll explore the  phases of pregnancy, labor/birth, and the postpartum time.  Find tools and tips from other expecting moms and facilitator birth & postpartum doula, Beth Rees.

We’ll discuss:

Preparation for birth & baby

Changing bodies & hormones

Birth options in San Francisco

Relationships & Sex

Nutrition during pregnancy, labor/birth, & postpartum

Newborn care & parenting

Herbal medicine during pregnancy, birth & postpartum

Community Resources

Holistic and Western tools & interventions during pregnancy & birth

What you need in your birth & diaper bag- A product review

Planning your postpartum support team

And more…

Details:

When: Drop in on Tuesdays 1-2pm beginning March 1, 2011

Where: Natural Resources

Cost: $10 members/$15 non-members

]]> http://mindfuldoulaarts.com/2011/01/30/pregnant-moms-support-group-by-beth-rees-coming-march-1st/feed/ 0 mindfuldoulaarts http://mindfuldoulaarts.com/2010/11/29/fall-2010-winter-2011-immune-system-boosting-tips-for-the-whole-family/ http://mindfuldoulaarts.com/2010/11/29/fall-2010-winter-2011-immune-system-boosting-tips-for-the-whole-family/#comments Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:30:08 +0000 mindfuldoulaarts http://mindfuldoulaarts.wordpress.com/?p=274 Continue reading →]]> We all have our different approaches to working with this season healthfully. These resources were selected because of their  informative, helpful and well-rounded nature; especially in regards to vaccination debates and working with the H1N1 flu virus.    While these tips reflect the needs of preggos, breastfeeding moms & babies and families, we could all follow these guidelines and enjoy the immune benefits.  Be well!

Reminders and Tips for a healthy Fall and Winter:

• Dress appropriately for the weather, wear layers and a scarf.
• Get plenty of rest, between 7-9 hours a night.  For new parents this may seem unrealistic.  Taking time to rest and nap really does count towards our daily sleep needs.  Rest & nap as much as possible if longer periods of sleep are not possible.
• Drink room temperature or warm beverages.  Avoid cold or iced drinks as the weather turns cooler.  Soups and broths are simple meals for the whole family and ideal for the season.
• Wash your hands frequently – after shaking hands, using public transportation, and before eating etc.
• Incorporate culinary herbs like fresh garlic regularly into meals  – to soups, greens, or add to olive oil and eat with bread.  Garlic is highly antimicrobial.  Fresh ginger roots makes an excellent tea and aids in digestive health.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine, healthy digestion is the foundation of a well working immune system.  Both ginger and garlic work well for the pregnant and breastfeeding mom/families.   Ask your health care provider if you have questions. (Look for a ginger tea recipe at the end of this post).

Excerpt from Whole Child Wellness November  2009 Newsletter by Dr. Elisa Song (http://www.wholechildwellness.com/)

Apart from these measures, I also take and recommend the following supplements. The dosages that I mention are only intended as general guides, and may vary according to each child s unique needs. Please contact your pediatrician for specific dosage recommendations:

• Fish oil.
• Probiotics – I have been using Metagenics Ultra Flora Plus at a dosage of ¼ tsp or 1 capsule 2x/day. This particular probiotics blend was found to be effective in significantly reducing the rates of fever and upper respiratory symptoms when taken daily throughout the cold/flu season.
• Vitamin C – I have been using Metagenics Ultra-Potent C because it has added ingredients such as lysine and glutathione which assist in fighting viruses. In general, I recommend Vitamin C 500mg 2x/day.
• Vitamin D3 – there is speculation that the rates of illness increase over the winter because of the widespread deficiency of Vit D. In general, I recommend 1000IU daily for children, but some kids who are very deficient may require higher dosages.
• Arabinogalactan – this is a natural sugar derived from the bark of the larch tree that enhances natural killer cell activity – these cells are part of our first line of defense against any invading organism. We carry the Vital Nutrients arabinogalactan powder, and generally recommend ½-1 tsp 2x/day.
• Oscillococcinum and/or SyImmune – these are homeopathic medicines that may help to prevent influenza infection.
• Xlear nasal spray – This is a saline nasal spray with xylitol and grapefruit seed extract, both of which have antimicrobial properties. You cannot overdo it, and will not get addicted to it. Other options for nasal irrigation are a regular saline spray or neti pot. Apart from regular hand washing, … daily and frequent nasal irrigation is one of the MOST important things that we can do to prevent influenza and other viral infections. This is because after exposure to a virus, the virus tries to invade and multiply in your nasal passages for at least 1-2 days before you develop any symptoms. Nasal irrigation can wash away viral particles before they have the opportunity to take hold, and thereby prevent many infections from happening in the first place! info@wholechildwellness.com

Picture attributed to creator [en:User:Greenmoss] A ceramic Neti pot image created by Kurt Yoder on December 29, 2004, Wikipedia Aug. 2007.

Flu Season Resource links:

Midwifery Today re: the H1N1 flu virus

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/preg_h1n1fluvirus.as

CDC re: H1N1 flu virus

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm

Dr. Sears re: H1N1 flu vaccine

http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/2009/07/h1n1-flu-vaccine-is-on-its-way-what.asp

CBS clip re: H1N1 vaccination debate
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5237185n

CDC re: infant feeding and the H1N1 virus
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/infantfeeding.htm

Sleep and our immunity
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/22/health/22real.html?_r=1&em

Elderberry and prevention of  H1N1 infection.

http://www.herbs.org/herbnews/2009/08/28/elderberry-flavonoids-bind-to-and-prevent-h1n1-infection-in-vitro/

Fresh Ginger Tea

A fresh ginger tea works very well to help prevent colds/flus by supporting your digestion. It also helps warm up your muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments for birth and postpartum healing.

Just take a thumb (length & wide) size amount of fresh ginger root and cut into slivers.  Add water (6-8 cups) and ginger to sauce pan on medium heat.  Simmer for 15 minutes, strain, then drink and enjoy!  Therapeutic dose is ~3 cups a day.
Take care and be well!